Obituaries from December 2007

WILLIAM "BILL" MERRILL PRESSLER(12/27/07)William "Bill" Merrill Pressler, 44, of Exeter, died on Thursday, Dec. 20, 2007, at his home. He was born on Dec. 4, 1963, in Portsmouth, Va., the son of George and Sally (Jordan) Pressler. He married Mari Dapp on Sept. 25, 1993, in Eureka Springs, Ark. She survives. He was a veteran of the U.S. Navy serving on the USS Austin and was a mechanic...

LAURA CHRISTINE (CHRISTIE) HOLLINGSWORTH POE(12/27/07)Survivors include: her husband, Terry, of Flint, Texas, (formerly of Searcy, Ark.); her mother and stepfather, Laura Phillips and Mike Goodman, of Jacksonville, Ark.; her father and stepmother, Stephen and Deana Hollingsworth, of Maumelle, Ark.; one brother, Michael Quinton Hollingsworth and his wife Nancy (United States Army currently stationed in Germany); stepsister, Robin Thompson and her husband, Randy, of Alexandria, Va.; grandmothers, Georgia Faye Hollingsworth, of Cassville, and Pat Phillips, of Jacksonville, Ark.; mother-in-law, Margaret Poe, of Searcy, Ark.; and a number of aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.. ...

DORIS LORAYNE SIMS EASLEY(12/19/07)Doris Lorayne Sims Easley, 86, of Monett, Mo., passed away at 7 a.m. Saturday, December 15, 2007, in her home following a long illness. Her constant companions, Max and Carolyn, were at her side. She was born December 13, 1921, in Cassville, Mo., the daughter of John Lester and Avesta Fulton Sims. Doris was a graduate of Cassville High School, and thereafter, she began her career as a legal secretary in Barry County. She later became clerk for the Selective Service Board during the WWII years...

HISAKO HALL(12/19/07)Hisako Hall, 74 of Cassville, died Dec. 14, 2007, at her home. She was born Oct. 15, 1933, in Yahata-Shi, Japan. She was the second daughter of Toshio and Nao Sawabe. She was united in marriage to LeRoy Hall Dec. 19, 1960, in Yokohama, Japan. She was preceded in death by her parents...

OLETA M. HOLLOWAY(12/19/07)Oleta M. Holloway, 69, of Exeter, passed away Thursday, Dec. 13, 2007, in St. John's Hospital, Cassville. She was born March 1, 1938, in Purdy, the daughter of Walter Lee and Vesta Alberta (Terry) Holloway.She was united in marriage to Haskell Terry and to this union three children were born...

LOETA JAMES(12/19/07)Loeta James, 85, of Shell Knob, passed away Thursday, Dec. 13, 2007, in St. John's Hospital, Berryville, Ark. She was preceded in death by her parents; one daughter and one son. She received her education in Oklahoma. In 1944, she moved to California and worked at several occupations including the defense factory for several years. From there she moved to Wichita, Kan., and continued to work at a defense factory. In 1985 Loeta moved to Missouri to make her home...

WILLIAM ROBERT MILES(12/19/07)William Robert Miles, 80, of Shell Knob, passed away Sunday, Dec.16, 2007, in St. John's Hospital, Berryville, Ark. He was born Aug. 27, 1927, in Indianapolis, Ind., the son of John Francis and Mary Oma (Blair) Miles. On July 26, 1947, in St. Louis, he was united in marriage to Shirley Mae Birtley, who preceded him in death on Jan. 15, 1991. He was also preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Patrick...

GARY D. GORDON(12/19/07)Gary D. Gordon, 67, of Shell Knob, formerly of Wichita, Kan., passed away at St. John's Hospital in Berryville, Ark., on Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2007, after a two-year battle with lung cancer. He was born in Salina, Kan., June 15, 1940, the son of Robert Burns and Velma (Hosie) Gordon. In Las Vegas, Nev., on July 3, 1974, he was united in marriage to Karen Lynn Stocksen...

NORMA INEZ HILTON(12/19/07)Norma Inez (Varner) Hilton passed away December 13, 2007, at the age of 95 years young. She was born at Washburn, Missouri, March 25, 1912, to Gertrude (Thomas) and Moulton Varner. Linda Woolstenhulme, her youngest of four daughters, her parents, 4 Brothers, 4 Sisters and 3 Husbands, Major Scott, Ivan Rowley and Dale Hilton, preceded her in death. ...

FREDERICK WILLIAM "BILL" BASTIAN(12/19/07)Frederick William "Bill" Bastian, 85 of Rogers, Ark., died Saturday, Dec. 15, 2007, at Northwest Medical Center in Bentonville, Ark. He was born May 8, 1922 in Hannibal to George and Letha Reagan Bastian. He served in the Army during WWII as a radio operator in Alaska. He worked as a barber in the family barber shop in Hannibal, and then entered the ministry in 1954. He pastored Baptist churches in Missouri, Kansas and Arkansas. He married Audrey Jeanne Roth on March 14, 1943 in Lamar...

BILLY BROWN(12/19/07)Billy Ray Brown, 73, of Cassville, passed away Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2007, in St. John's Regional Health Center, Springfield. He was born March 15, 1934, in Cassville, the son of George R. and Eva Leah (Owens) Brown. On May 22, 1953, he was united in marriage to Jeanetta Dunbar, who survives...

ANNIE BARNETT CARNEY(12/19/07)Annie Barnett Carney, 47, of Butterfield, passed away Thursday, Dec. 13, 2007, a her home in Butterfield. She was born Dec. 9, 1960, in Joplin, the daughter of the late Alfred David and Ruby Francis (Hayes) Barnett. She was a homemaker. Survivors include: two sons, Shane Kettner, of Butterfield and Skyler Kettner, of Purdy; one daughter, Shannon Long, of Jerico Springs; four sisters, Norma Bendickson, of Pierce City, Kay Barnett and Vici Pancake, both of Joplin, and Penny Barnett, of Fayetteville, Ark.; four brothers, Michael Barnett, of Monett, Gary Barnett, of Moberly, Mark Barnett, of Butterfield and Melvin Barnett, of Virginia; and two grandchildren.. ...

MICHAEL "BUZZ" KAHLER, JR.(12/19/07)Michael "Buzz" Kahler, Jr., 34, of Monett, passed away Saturday, Dec. 8, 2007, in an automobile accident. He was born Feb. 3, 1973, in Wichita, Kan., the son of Michael and Barbara (Miller) Kahler of Unionville, who survive. Additional survivors include: his fiancÚ, Deidera Clouse; one son, Cody Kahler; one daughter, MeKennah Kahler; one stepson, Dayton Clouse; one stepdaughter, Ceison Clouse; two brothers, Steve Kahler and his wife, Debbie, of Shell Knob, and Ron Kahler and his wife, Chrissy, of Berryville, Ark.; three sisters, Dottie Stuckey and her husband, Greg, of Unionville, Tina Kahler, of Vian, Okla., and Michelle Robbins, of Unionville; grandmother, Margie Kahler, of Marshall.. ...

DONALD KNOX GOSHAY(12/19/07)Donald Knox Goshay, 80, of Golden, died Saturday, Dec. 15, 2007, at his home. He served his country during World War II in the U.s. Army and also in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War. He was a graduate of Hollywood High School and the University of California at Los Angeles with degrees in electrical and mechanical engineering. ...

MARILYN NAUMAN(12/12/07)Marilyn Nauman, 77, of Shell Knob, died on Dec. 4, 2007, at her daughter's home in Shell Knob. She was born on Aug. 26, 1930, in Bayard, Neb., the daughter of Harold and Lenore (Silsby) Upton. She was married to David Nauman. He preceded her in death in 1989. She was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Douglas, Wyo., and was the Community Educational Director for Eastern Wyoming College in Douglas, Wyo., for several years...

RACHEL CASEY(12/06/07)Rachel Casey, 85, of Seligman, died Sunday, Nov. 25, 2007, at St. Mary's Hospital in Rogers, Ark. She was born Feb. 17, 1922, at Indian Bottom, Ky., to Andy Engle and Martha Wallace Engle. She moved to the area in 1970 from Laramie, Wyo. She was a housemother at the University of Wyoming in Laramie and at the U of A in Fayetteville. She was a Baptist...

ANNABELLE MARY WILHELM(12/06/07)Annabelle Mary Wilhelm, 72, of Shell Knob, passed away Saturday, Dec. 1, 2007. She was born Dec. 22, 1934, in Hixton, Wis., the daughter of Anton and Mildred (Held) Ripp. On Oct. 19, 1957, in Alma Center, Wis., she was united in marriage to David Paul Wilhelm, who survives...

JOHNNY LEE ROGERS(12/06/07)Johny Lee Rogers, 68, son of Eva (Snyder) and Deyoe Rogers, died Nov. 30, 2007. He was born on Nov. 20, 1939, on a farm near Hardtner, Kan. He attended the Hardtner School system where he graduated from high school with the class of 1959. On Sept. 30, 1962, he was married to Janet LeVone Hutson in Leon, Kan. To their marriage two children, Julie Lynn and Jay Leslie were born...

FREDDIE ERVIN BANKS(12/06/07)He was preceded in death by his parents; a sister, Virginia Akehurst; and two infant siblings. Survivors include: his wife of 54 years, Mary Banks, of the home; three children, Ervin Banks and wife, Mary Ellen, of Neosho, Kathy Trammell, of Bentonville, Ark., Vicky Hobson, of Centerton, Ark.; a brother, Joe Banks, of Jane; seven sisters, Imogene Delmont, of Los Angeles, Calif., Leta Miller, of West Moreland, Tenn., Lavon O'Brien, of Burleson, Texas, Carolyn Wilmoth, of Cleveland, Texas, Glynda Lowe, of Jane, Trudy Hill, of LaPorte, Texas, Deborah Land, of Anderson; six grandchildren; and five great grandchildren,. ...

JOYCE WEASMER(12/06/07)1933-2007 Our loving mom, grandma, great-grandma, aunt and sister-in-law peacefully returned to our Heavenly Father the evening of November 27, 2007 with her children by her side. She was born September 16, 1933 in Oxford Junction, Iowa and married Jim Weasmer in 1953. ...

BONNIE LEE HOLT(12/06/07)Bonnie Lee Holt, 66, of Aurora, passed away Saturday, Dec. 1, 2007, in Cox Medical Center South, Springfield. She was born Feb. 17, 1941, in Fulton, the daughter of Fred and Bessie Mae (McCall) Shoaf. On April 17, 1969, in Kansas City, she was united in marriage to Silas Holt, who survives...

CHARLES LEE CHAMBERS(12/06/07)Charles Lee Chambers, 66, of Cassville, died on Nov. 29, 2007, at St. John's Hospital in Springfield. He was born on July 15, 1941, in Joplin, the son of Charlie and Clara Irene (Creller) Chambers. He was of the Baptist faith, and was a self employed carpenter...

FRED JAMES HOOVER(12/06/07)Fred James Hoover, 86, of Exeter, passed away Tuesday, Nov. 27, 2007, in Cox Medical Center South, Springfield. He was preceded in death by his parents and two sisters. He graduated from high school in Kansas City and also attended college there. In 1946 he joined the United States Coast Guard. ...

RAY ROBBINS, JR.(12/06/07)Ray Jr. Robbins, 85, of Exeter, passed away Friday, Nov. 30, 2007, in Red Rose Inn of Cassville. He was born May 13, 1922, in Cassville, the son of John William and Anna (Stansbury) Robbins. On June 15, 1946, he was united in marriage to Louise Allcock who preceded him in death on Sept. 22, 1985. He was also preceded in death by his parents; a daughter, Janie Marie Robbins; one sister and four brothers...

ODETTA B. HOLMAN(12/06/07)Odetta B. Holman, 88, of Monett, passed away Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2007, at Lacoba Nursing Home, Monett. She was born June 2, 1919, in Barry County to Calvin Kirk Sr. and Grace Combs Lowe. She was a homemaker and attended Corinth Baptist Church, Cassville...

ARMSTRONG "ARMY" CRIDER(12/06/07)Armstrong "Army" Crider, formerly of Cassville, died Nov. 25, 2007, at the age of 96, at Active Care at Pt. Loma, in San Diego, CA. Army was born Oct. 29, 1911, in Maitland, MO, son of Armstrong Black Crider and Mary Elizabeth Goodpasture. He played on a State Champion high school basketball team, then went to Missouri University to play basketball and earn a degree in Business Administration...

MARTHA HIGGINBOTHAM(12/12/07)Martha Higginbotham, 80, of Cassville, died Dec. 7, 2007, at the Red Rose Inn in Cassville. She was born on June 3, 1927, in Oronogo, the daughter of Joseph and Martha Ellen (Carey) Neff. She was a former resident of Shell Knob, and Nemo. She was a cook and owned several cafes throughout the years. She attended the Assembly of God Church in Pittsburg, Mo...

HELEN M. GOODNIGHT(12/12/07)Helen M. goodnight, 88, of Monett, passed away Sunday, Dec. 9, 2007, at Lacoba Nursing Home in Monett. She was born Sept. 17, 1919, in Monett, the daughter of the late ellis and Coella (eden) Nunley. She was united in marriage to Lee goodnight on Oct. 16, 1938, in Barry County and he preceded her in death April 27, 2002...

JACK REID STANLEY(12/06/07)Jack R. Stanley, 62, of Marionville, died Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2007, in Cox Medical Center South in Springfield. He was born April 23, 1945, in Spartanburg, S.C. to Nichols and Vera (Gossett) Abbott. He was raised by his mother and adoptive father Howard Stanley. He was a 1963 Marionville High School graduate and graduated from the University of Arkansas in 1968...